This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
October is Energy Awareness month. In celebration, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is hosting an energy merit badge/patch class for Boy and Girl Scouts in the Washington, DC area. This event will be held on October 27th, and will help these Scouts learn more about the energy that they use each day.
In preparation for this class, Boy and Girl Scouts will do independent research on energy. Through this process, they will reach articles on energy use with a focus on learning about what energy is, where it energy comes from, and how it is used in the Scout's home. In their energy class preparation, Scouts will even complete a home energy audit.
The Boy Scouts Energy Merit Badge workbook provides a sample home energy audit worksheet for Scouts. The worksheet includes steps for checking the adequacy of existing insulation and the existence of air leaks.
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Want to see if your refrigerator leaking cool air? The Scout workbook suggests that you “…close a dollar bill in the door. If the bill moves with little resistance, the seal is bad.”
The sample audit also includes recommendations for how the Scouts can help their families to reduce their home energy use. These suggestions hit on the expected thermostat setting recommendations, but also touch on topics including peak loads and time of use pricing.
This free event will be held at the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, DC.
October 11, 2012 - The Girl Scouts energy merit patch (seen above on the left, next to the Boy Scout's energy merit badge) was designed by Gina Pearson, Assistant Administrator for Communications, and her team at the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Thanks to the EIA for supplying this image.